RIAM boss arrested

KIGALI - Police have arrested Marc Kabandana, the Director General of Rwanda Institute of Administration and Management (RIAM) a government’s training body allegedly over the loss about Rwf 203 million.

Friday, September 25, 2009
L-R: WE WANT JUSTICE: Spokesperson of NPPA Augustine Nkusi, IN THE COOLERS: Mark Kabandana.

KIGALI - Police have arrested Marc Kabandana, the Director General of Rwanda Institute of Administration and Management (RIAM) a government’s training body allegedly over the loss about Rwf 203 million.

A police source told The New Times that Kabandana, was picked up at his home yesterday evening and was interrogated for several hours at CID headquarters.

When contacted prosecution spokesperson, Augustin Nkusi said Kabandana is accused of embezzling public funds and bending laws that govern tendering procedures.

"But it’s still early to apportion blame. Investigations are still going on,” Nkusi told The New Times over the phone last evening. 

Nkusi said the suspect could have approved money to be paid to suppliers who are believed to have used non-existent companies.

Nkusi said Kabandana also used to force the institution’s Director of Finance to release money to pay suppliers even when the work was not done.

"An audit has been done and the findings are not good. The tax payers’ money had not been accounted for,” Nkusi revealed.

Irregularities in the awarding of tenders in some governments institutions has in the past raised concern with persistent reports of government officials who award tenders without following the normal procedures.

Ends